1492Seeking another route to the riches of Asia, he traveled west, across the Atlantic Ocean. Although he was Italian, he was sponsored by the King and Queen of Spain. He landed in the West Indies and brought back new discoveries to Spain. He also established the first European colony in the Americas.
Christopher Columbus
On the natives:“They were of an acute intelligence but had no iron or steel weapons. Should your majesties command it, all the inhabitants could be made slaves.”
The ConquistadorsThe Conquistadors
Conquistador is the Spanish word for conqueror.
Their goal was to explore and to gain as much land and wealth for Spain as possible.
Why did they come??
• Some came for profit.GOLD• Some came to convert Native
Americans to Christianity. (religion)
GOD
• Some came for adventure. GLORY
Conquistadors 2. Hernando Cortes: (1519-1521) Conquered the Aztec Empire and
stole their gold. Tribes that the Aztecs had
conquered joined with Cortes. Disease killed almost all of the
Aztecs.
Conquistadors 3. Francisco Pizarro: (1532-1533) Conquered the Incan Empire. Pizarro ambushed the Incan
emperor, Atahualpa. He killed him and thousands of his men.
The Incan Empire, which had been fighting a civil war, collapsed.
Pizarro stole huge treasures of gold and silver.
A worldwide exchange of goods and ideas
that transformed the world.
A worldwide exchange of goods and ideas
that transformed the world.
The Columbian Exchange
Social Classes in New Spain
PENINSULARE
CREOLE
MESTIZO
INDIAN
Born in Spain. Had the highest government jobs.
Born in the colonies of Spanish parents. Wealthy and well-educated.
Mixed Spanish and Indian blood. Worked on farms or as tailors, carpenters, bakers, etc.
Lowest class. Treated as conquered people and kept in poverty.
Results of Colonization Native
American populations declined drastically due to:• New diseases• Warfare• Harsh conditions
Other Results The deaths of millions of Native
Americans led to a labor shortage.
Where would Spain get the laborers needed for their plantations and mines? Spain filled the shortage
with slaves from Africa.
Las Casas Bartolomé de Las
Casas was a Spanish priest that fought for laws to protect Native Americans.
He was known as “Protector of the Indians”
Other Results New foods introduced to Europe
led to a population increase in Europe.
Spain became a wealthy empire. Other nations (Portugal, France, &
England) also wanted to colonize the New World.